For the shock of this 8th day of the championship, Paris Saint-Germain received Montpellier Hérault Sport Club at the Camp des Loges in front of some 1200 spectators. After a slight domination of Montpellier, the Parisian win and found the fault twice on set pieces of Hermoso, before tripling the goal on his camp against Torrent. Janice Cayman will reduce the score at the end of the game, which will at least save the honor for the MHSC (3-1). The Herault club suffered a second defeat against a big team after OL (5-0) in this first leg of D1 Feminine.


We knew that this meeting would mark a real turning point in this beginning of the season. With a PSG who stalled entry face Soyaux (1-1) before raising the bar and honing his game last weekend against Fleury. While Montpellier, who managed to "cling" to second place in the league last year - synonymous with the Champions League today - is showing off its ups and downs. The Montpellier had gone beating at the opening of the exercise 2017/2018, before being punished by Lyon (0-5) and being trapped by Zvezda (1-0) in the Champions League. A "new" competition in the table of goals of the club, which requires much more effort to the players of Jean-Louis Saez and that may explain slightly this start of the championship.



Paris leaves Montpellier coming


In the first moments of the game, it is the MHSC that seems to be taking the right pace, pressing PSG high. But the team of Linda Sembrant will struggle to overcome the Parisian defense or even Formiga, PSG's true shield in this game. It will probably be the important element of this shock, as the Parisian defense composed by Paredes and Berglund. Two players who start to find their mark against each other.


Very quickly, however, Paris regains possession of the ball on this center Formiga (6th) shifted for Eve Perisset on the right lane. The latter sends the ball for Marie-Laure Delie at the far post, but it is cleared by the defense of Montpellier. Just minutes later, Formiga (9) combined again with Perisset, and the Brazilian transmits to Diani at the entrance to the MHSC penalty area. The French international has come across a shot but far too much, it goes in six meters.


Paris has understood that the real challenge today was to catch Lyon in the game and continues to sharpen in this direction, since the last weekend against Fleury. Like Lawrence (11th) on the left lane, and trying twice to center for Delie, which is opposed by Agard on both attempts to recover the pass.


Montpellier tries to react with Valerie Gauvin in the 14th and 16th minute. Montpellier stands at the far post, but Lawrence is there to repel the danger. She retires then, but it's clear again, by Berglund this time.


Hermoso maneuvering on free kicks


After several twists, the PSG manages to open the score on set kick. A free kick in the 19th minute, well struck by Hermoso for Paredes, who comes to place a header at the far post 1-0. Meline Gerard finds herself very lacking. But nothing is played at this precise moment of the match, Montpellier knows he can return, as he had done so well against Paris FC last weekend at Charlety (1-2).


Linda Sembrant covers the backs for Montpellier, and to push these teammates towards the goal of Paris. But Formiga will not let the Montpellier walk on his field as easily, recovering most of the lost balloons for his team. Like the half-hour game on this good recovery for Lawrence on his left flank and distributes a good ball Delie, but Sembrant is on the spot and Meline Gerard recovers the ball in the air.


The Montpellier have more ease to build their game, to have space between them and the possibility of being on the ground, but have difficulty to strike offensively. And it is a difficulty that will be expensive in this first period. It is again on a set kick that Paris will hit and we do not change a player who wins. Jennifer Hermoso is again called to hit this free kick. To scramble the tracks, Eve Perisset remains close to Hermoso as if they were going to combine on this second shot. But it is - well - hit directly in the box, and Delie (40th) comes then place his head, his seventh goal in eight games 2-0!


Things get complicated for Montpellier, who have already struggled to return after the 1-0, facing a solid defense Paris. Clarisse The Bihan (41), titularized for this poster will try to break the lock of Paris, on this strike full axis at the entrance to the surface, but it is captured by Kiedrzynek.

With two goals in advance, Paris is gaining confidence before entering the second half, while Montpellier will have to change its game strategy to convince and try to return to the score. At the return of the locker room, it is the Parisiennes who set the tone. At the hour of play, we find Grace Geyoro (63), who leaves alone to the goal, but it is caught by the defense Montpellier and can not return in the axis ball to the foot. His shot finally ends small net.
But just after that, Paris gets his third goal on this center Perisset (66) no Parisian does not appear, but it is resumed head - unfortunately against his side - by Torrent, who wanted to ward off the danger for a corner, to cover the second post 3-0.

Montpellier tramples on finding the fault


The last twenty minutes of the match are racing. Montpellier goes back his block. Clarisse Le Bihan (74th) tries again to take the defender of the PSG, Katarzyna Kiedrzynek on this strike, but that's without counting his parade. Montpellier moved gradually, more and more in the Paris camp, which retreated just after the entry of Erika in defense in place of Marie-Laure Delie in attack. A tactic of the MHSC that will pay. Erika tries to cut the momentum of Sofia Jakobsson who played his percussion to enter the PSG box. The Brazilian is working not to make a mistake, but Jakobsson stands up to the Parisienne and Erika makes it fall. The referee whistles the penalty.


It will be easily transformed by Janice Cayman (84) on a 3-1 against foot. A reduction in the score that comes a little late for Montpellier, ten minutes from the end of the match. The Belgian international rushes to get the ball in the cages of Kiedrzynek to launch the commitment of Paris. In the additional time, the Belgian (90th + 4th) is trying on a shot from afar, which just shave the second post but without worrying Paris. The club of the capital offers a good victory and strengthens its second place in the standings with four points more than its current outsider.


PSG begins - finally - to find its rhythm of cruise in this D1 Feminine and sends a strong message to Lyon before their shock at the summit, on December 10th. Montpellier on his side will have trouble swallowing this new disappointment and will have to react quickly to avoid a bad dynamic in his season and not miss out on his Champions League.


Post-match reaction

Janice Cayman (MHSC): "It's a shame [that my goal] is a little late"

Patrice Lair (PSG): "Tonight we proved that we still have to rely on Paris"

Jean-Louis Saez (MHSC): "We will digest this defeat and we'll see where we are at the 22nd day"

Grace Geyoro (PSG): "We worked hard on the set pieces and that's what allowed us to win"



Match sheet
D1 Female: Day 8


Place: Georges Lefèvre Municipal Stadium (Saint-Germain-en-Laye)


goals
PSG: Paredes (19th), Delie (40th) Torrent (csc, 72nd).
MHSC: Cayman (86th).


PSG: Katarzyna Kiedrzynek, Irene Paredes, Emma Berglund, Eve Perisset, Ashley Lawrence, Jennifer Hermoso (Cruz, 78th), Formiga, Grace Geyoro, Marie-Antoinette Katoto (Baltimore, 83rd), Marie-Laure Delie (Erika, 68th), Kadidiatou Diani
Coach: Patrice Lair

MHSC: Meline Gerard, Linda Sembrant, Anouk Dekker (Torrecilla, 79th), Laura Agard, Marion Torrent, Sakina Karchaoui, Katrine Veje (Blackstenius, 58th), Sandie Toletti, Janice Cayman, Clarisse Le Bihan, Valerie Gauvin (Jakobsson, 67th)
Coach: Jean-Louis Saez